6 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Techniques for Bipolar Disorder

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a kind of psychotherapy where in negative thought patterns of oneself and the world are challenged in order to change unwanted behavioural patterns or treat mood disorders like depression and this type of therapy can also be beneficial for people with bipolar disorder.

Mood swings is not new for someone who is living with bipolar disorder, these mood swings can often be found uncomfortable. Not only does these high and lows create tension in your personal life, relationship and career but it is also very dangerous when left untreated, the condition could possibly lead to suicide.

Don’t fret! Bipolar disorder can be controlled and managed. While medication plays a vital role to controlling bipolar disorder, adding behavioural therapy can make the process faster in helping you get your life back together. As Eric from Lighthouse suggest, this psychotherapy may involve one-on-one sessions with a therapist but it may also include group sessions with a therapist and other people who are having the same issues.

6 CBT Techniques for Bipolar Disorder

Identifying the cause and Accepting that you need help – the first step in the process is identifying the root cause of the disorder. It is very difficult to pinpoint, lots of recent research focused on looking for causes in brain chemistry or in genetics but many researches also believe that social factors could contribute like childhood trauma, stressful life events, self-esteem problems, It may be difficult for some to accept these and acknowledge the fact that they need help but embracing the idea that they can be overcome is essential.

Examine your thoughts, behaviours and emotions then monitor them – one way of monitoring your mood is to keep a journal and write down your current situation and how you feel http://quotecorner.com/online-pharmacy.html about the current situation you’re in and then implement a scoring system of 0-10 where 0 stands for depressed, 5 is okay and 10 is elevated mood. The purpose of keeping a journal with this system is to become more aware of what triggers which emotion or changes and how often they happen.

Undergoing Cognitive Restructuring (CR) – cognitive restructuring is a psychotherapeutic process where one learns to identify and dispute irrational thought known as cognitive distortions which are ways that our mind convinces us that something isn’t true and leads to negative thinking or emotions.

Frequent Problem-Solving – This step is often taught in therapy and then practiced in between sessions. The process involves identifying the problem, coming up with possible solutions, deciding a solution, applying it and evaluating the outcome. This is important because problems in any form, whether personal issues or social issues, can be a great stressor which puts down a person with bipolar disorder.

Enhancing Social Skills – A good bulk of people suffering from bipolar disorder are lacking in the social department. Acquiring skills that will allow facilitating interaction and communication with others like assertiveness can help manage interpersonal relationships better.

Establish a Routine – People with bipolar disorder is advised to establish a daily routine or involve themselves with activities done on a regular basis to stabilize their mood. This can be as simple as daily household chores to organizing parties.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a well-known treatment that can be applied to a range of issues and that includes the management of bipolar disorder. The main premise is identifying the problems, realizing how you react to them, accepting negative reactions are unhealthy and focusing on replacing those with healthier alternatives.